ElaineC

It does sound good....but who needs AN 8 OUNCE PATTIE? Us bandsters will need to make the MUCH smaller.

GREAT info!!!! It is amazing how much things are effected. I am not even 2 weeks post op and have almost no bruising left. Hope you heal fast.

Anyone want to chat now???

Thanks guys...I just have failed at so many weight loss things in the past that I guess I am afraid to believe that this will actually work. I know it is not an instant result that is not even what I am seeking. It is much healthier to take time and lose the way the band is designed to help you. I also feel really GOOD. No real pain even from my incisions. I don't FEEL like I have just had surgery. Maybe that is also part of it. It is nice to know that I am just being a bit paranoid.

Is it possible to hurt my band at this stage or only after I start "real" (aka chewable) food late next week? I am not normally a soup person, but I do like cream of broccoli cheese soup and Campbells makes one that is 98% fat free.. So far I have made cream of broccoli cheese and added some garlic herb seasoning and parmesean and blended it until it was smooth with a wand mixer. Heat and serve. Today I also made a mixture of cream of chicken and cream of aspargus adding the parmesean cheese, blending until smooth. Heat and serve. Both have been pretty good. I stop myself when eating, but feel like I could continue to eat all the time. Being liquids, these are just passing through the band, right? I do not want to stretch my pouch and will limit quantities to ensure that I don't. This is just new and I don't want to mess this up. I forgot about the chat until no one was in there last night so I could not ask then.

You should be ok. Can I ask what quantities of these you are having at a sitting? Is it possible to hurt my band at this stage or only after I start "real" (aka chewable) food late next week? I am not normally a soup person, but I do like cream of broccoli cheese soup. So far I have made cream of broccoli cheese and added some garlic herb seasoning and parmesean and blended it until it was smooth with a wand mixer. Heat and serve. Today I also made a mixture of cream of chicken and cream of aspargus adding the parmesean cheese, blending until smooth. Heat and serve. Both have been pretty good.

We just came back on Monday and the flights on Southwest were about $350 per person ROUNDTRIP (about $150-170 each way). They were by far the cheapest airline. Eaine

I think I just ended up dehydrated. I also came down with a head cold, and I think the post nasal drip was part of it. I am doing fine now.

Hey Erin, I ended up being the one that had to go back to OCC sent the van for me IMMEDIATELY and they checked my band. So, I got to see it on Flouro and it looks perfect. No obstructions or anything..tey gave me an IV with fluids and nausea meds, vitamins, and pain meds then I was fine. I have not felt like that since. After a long day of travel, I am home and feeling pretty good.

I was 355 when I made the decision to have the surgery. I started the pre-op diet early (about 2 weeks early) and lost a total of 35 pounds on it. My surgery weight was 320. That was last Thursday. I will weigh in tomorrow at my TOPS meeting and expect to be down some more. Talk to the coordinators and doc if that is what will make you comfortable. I have no regrets so far.

I just had my surgery on Thursday and am doing ok. This morning I started vomiting, but a phone call to the clinic and they picked me up at the hotel. Once back at OCC, they checked my band for blockage (there wasn't any) then put me on a IV to get rid of the nausea and kicked in some vitamins. I am doing better, but think I am coming down with a cold. This is a GREAT place to get it done as everyone is so rsponsive to our needs and fears. Congrats on your decision.

Amber I hope to join you in twosville soon! It is great that I will have someone there that is just as happy to be there as I will be. CONGRATULATIONS!

Erin, We probably ought to go to bed..those planes leave pretty early. Part of me thinks trying to sleep is pointless. The other part thinks it makes sense and I am nuts to still be on line. See you tomorrow.

Erin, I can't wait to meet you tomorrow. My plane lands at 10:15am so we will probably be on the same van to OCC. WOW. HMMM....Since I don't have buddies being banded at the same time, I wonder if they would consider doing mine tomorrow? If they are willing, I am. It would give me an extra day to recoup before my appointment on Friday for the marriage license. This will be a busy and exciting next few days.

Amber, you will want to do every 10 pounds. When I get to my goal weight I will have 18 or so charms on the bracelet. And hey, if the bracelet is heavy, it will remind me that I USED TO be and help me to remember to follow the lapband rules so that I won't be again. I would much rather have a heavy bracelet than a heavy me. I plan to wear my "heavy" bracelet with pride.

In the confirmation stuff OCC sends you is a link to the airline restrictions. It tells you EVERYTHING you need to know and then some. I will do my 24 hour before flight check in online in the morning, then get on the plane on Wed. morning.

I joined the local TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) support group. The first ten pounds lost earns you the bracelet and each ten pounds thereafter earns you a charm. On my pre-op diet I have earned my bracelet and one charm. I expect when I go to the next meeting to have earned another charm. You are right it is a great motivational tool. I love the charm I have and each additional will only bring me closer to my final goal.It feels like success and that is a wonderful thing. I would have already earned it but couldn't get to the meeting this week and next week I will be in TJ being banded. I am actually being good on vacation and making the pre-op diet work even on this trip. Mountain climbing is great exercise. I am enjoying exploring Chimney Rock and climbing on the rocks in the river.

I actually find I do better if I actually CHEW something for lunch instead of just drinking a shake. I like the Glucerna chocolate peanut meal bars. It tastes like an extra chewy reese's cup. Can we say YUM? It seems to hold the hungries off longer than the shake for lunch. There are also a couple of atkins bars that taste pretty good too. Good luck..You can do it!!!

Sara, Where are you flying in from? What time do you get to San Diego? We are taking a flight on Southwest that arrives at 10:15 AM in San Diego. (Yes that means leaving Orlando at 7:25 am.) I am just wondering what airport you are coming from and if we could possibly be on the same flight.

Someone mentioned on another thread having gotten a couple of cookbooks for post surgery eating. I would love to know which ones are good ones with recipes that real people will eat. This will be a way of life, so I need to find interesting and yummy things to eat that will work with my band. In my quick search, one of them had something like french toast on the cover, so I was wondering if that one may be one that applies more for RNY or sleeve surgeries? So what are some you veteran have had success with and enjoy.

That sounds like too few calories. I probably am closer to 800-900 a day. I have added a piece of fruit or for some of the dinners addres parmesan cheese so I don't feel deprived. Something else I have found helps. Dring a full glass of COLD water when the dinner is cooking. It gets rid of the immediate hunger/ thirst and preps the body for the non drinking for an hour after the meal. I also have better luck feeling full after a Glucerna drink or meal bar than the others. I don't think the blood sugar varies as much so you don't get the crash afterwards. So far I am down 24.5 pounds and I still have 2 weeks until my surgery. I started about 3 weeks ago due to terror over possibly not losing the 17.5 pounds I was supposed to before surgery. So, I am happy to have gone beyond that. Good Luck!

The fills are generally without fluro, but it can and will be used if needed. (According to his nurse.)

Actually I just called Lori and asked if anyone else had used Dr. Beltre in Altamonte Springs, FL (he is about 2 miles from my house). She did not have him on her list, but added him when I told her that he would work with those banded in Mexico. I scheduled my first fill with him for July 31st. She would like me to report my experience to her so she has something to go on should someone else ask. Cost... Consult and first fill $500. additional fills $100..office visit $50 so it seems pretty reasonable. and with the price of gas..it is MUCH cheaper than going to the fill center about 2 hours away in Tampa. Altamonte Springs is a suburb of Orlando, FL. I will update the forum on my experience after my fill. So far the office staff seem wonderful.

I AM 7 POUNDS UNDER WHAT DR. MIRANDA WANTED ME TO BE!!!!!!! I forgot to add one other thing I am doing. I have joined TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) It is a support group and the one I joined has about half of the members having had surgery, but I will be the only bandster. The cost is much less than weight watchers at only $24 a year to the organization and then $5 a month chapter dues. I was shocked at the meeting tonight when it showed I lost 7 1/2 pounds last week. I am down 24.5 pounds!!! The group of ladies there is WONDERFUL and so suppoprtive. It keeps me honest and motivated.

Sorry..I really don't have any secret. For breakfast and lunch I have either a shake (either glucerna butter pecan or a choc one with 30 grams protein thatI got at costco.) For supper, I have been having a lean cuisine.my faves are the fettichini ones or the 3 meat pizza and I admit to adding a bit of parmesan cheese to garnish and add flavor so I don't feel cheated. Other than that..I don't eat. I really have not been hungry. If I think I am hungry I have a glass of water and see if that solves it. So far it has.